Recommended bowl: Low-key tonkotsu

The name Guchoku means ‘simple and honest’ — which is much like master Saito-san’s personality. You won't find a sign outside of this shop, you just have to know where it is. The soup is a creamy tonkotsu made from pig heads and feet. Saito-san trained at Benkei in Horikiri prior to opening Guchoku in 2007. He makes the noodles by hand and runs the entire shop himself, so customers are only allowed to order one kaedama noodle refill each. The shop has a friendly atmosphere, and the bowls are downright delicious. Check Twitter before you go: @guchokuitabashi